john mccain chose a new scapegoat. >> she was, quote, feisty according to the mainstream media. she obviously has an adoring media. look, this thing has been -- it's been a cover-up. it -- i'm sorry to tell you that probably the adoring media will now say, well, that chapter is over. >> senator, don't hold it against us just because we like secretary of state hillary clinton a lot more than we like you. that's just the way it is. that was john mccain's, by the way, second appearance on fox within 12 hours. the republicans are right on track for 2016, folks. let's turn to howard fineman, nbc news political analyst and editorial director of the huffington post media group. howard, i was struck by your comment yesterday on "hardball" where you said that the hearing was the last failed shot of the 2012 election and the first failed shot of the 2016 campaign. how are the republicans doing today? >> well, i think i said it was a desperate act, but failed shot will also do. ed, i really think the emotional energy among the republicans is about their frustration at the way they lost the pre